Winstead.  May 12the
1879.

My dear friend.
I send herewith the
second of that series of three stories I
meant to write on the old ditty, and
have been as hindered about!  Send it
back please, as soon as may - be, if you
don't want it, so I can use it elsewhere,
for I am now beginning to write with
new impulse, and desire to scratch together
all the dollars possible, for - only think!
We have bought a house!  Not this old
and shackling mummery:  yet we are so
far true to the record of not inhabiting
common - place resources, that we have lived,
since we were married in an Opana house
a mummery, and now are about to take
up our abode in an old manse:  just as
sunny, more roomey, and much  cheaper





than this house, and having a good
garden outside and great square beams
within:  beside open fireplaces all over it.
The next thing is to pay for it!  but
you don't know how the prospect of a
place of my very own encourages me.
Why does one thing so to a bit of the south
they must leave before long?  I have all
my life been so tossed to and fro in
the wind of the world that I ought to be
used to it!  Yet I long for a fixed home
as much as if I were just beginning my life.
When we get into our new (!) house  I
shall expect you and Miss Wright to
"housel" it: and make me a good long
visit, for there I shall have room enough
to make you comfortable -  I am glad you
liked the albutus.  I sent Mrs Coullard a
box the next week, but fear it did
not reach her, as I received no acknowledgment.
(how funny that word is, divided that faction?)  But ma'am, I





did not send you any Easter egg:  our
hens do not celebrate times and seasons:
they are Puritanic hens, and do their duty,
but despise ginnbrack.  I wish I had sent
it if you liked it.  I know who did send me
a lovely Easter card, and thank them for
it heartily.  It is so good to be thought
of by friends.  I am almost well now
though the weather seems to have a spite
against me, and pains & aches do not
"forsake my day"  as the hymn book says, keen
do I get a sting:  but I am so fat!! Did
one even see such a Spring?  Decoration
Day will come to grief for there will be
no flowers till the Fourth of July at present
rates of progress:  leaves are just suggesting
themselves on the earliest trees, and the air
is such as causes people to say "what a
pleasant winter we are having!"  My poor
husband is undergoing this annual expectation
of his malasia which comes on at this season
as regularly as house-cleaning.  The only comfort
I can take is that he is better than this time last





year, which is a comfort.  Lizzy is nearly
well, and as gay as a lark.  I find now
the time is come to tinker at her moral
nature since her physical is established, so I
have begun to teach her the Assembly's
Catchetism.  I don't believe you know what
that is:  You're not orthodox enough:  but
I can tell you it is a pretty tough compendium
of theology.  If she were morbid or speculative
I would not do it, but she needs moral backbone.
Dear me!  I do wish I had you both out in,
this fresh country.  If it is told it is sweet
and coyly vernal; just at that exquisite
girlish time that is neither but our blossom
yet, but full of odinous promise, and
persuasive winds and sunshine - gently
persuasive I must own, as yet!  Rollin sends
his love to you as I do mine -  Tell Mrs
Wright when you give it her that I am
so sorry she is ill.  I know all the ins
and outs of that business, and do not
admire them.  Goodby.  Yrs very lovingly.

Rose G. B